LONDON Mayor Sadiq Khan claimed the 2017 Budget failed to provide businesses with the Brexit certainty they need and will bush companies to relocate to the European Union.

Mr Khan said Chancellor Philip Hammond's budget contained the "most anti-London" proposals at a time when city businesses require Brexit clarity.

He said: "At a time when there’s uncertainty, at a time where we are being told by the EU we’re going down the road of an extreme, hard Brexit because of the response of this Government, businesses will think ‘you know what? We’re far better going off to Frankfurt, or going to Berlin, or going to Paris.

"This is not me talking down London, it’s me being frustrated by this budget today. This, I think, is the most anti-London budget for a generation."

Talking to BBC News, the Mayor of London said Mr Hammond had wasted the chance for a "bolder budget" to boost business and help first-time buyers.

He also claimed the 2017 budget failed to provide new investment on apprenticeships and the police force.

Mr Khan added: "At a time when we’ve had four terror attacks in our city and when police numbers are going down, violent crime is going up, there was no news, no announcement of extra funding for our police in London.

"At a time when Londoners can’t afford to rent in London, let alone buy, no new rule news in relation to building affordable homes in London. At a time when businesses are frustrated by the lack of Londoners with the skills for the jobs of tomorrow, no rule news in relation to investing in young Londoners.

"This was a chance for the Chancellor to have a big, bolder budget. He’s blown it."

However Mr Hammond's Budget did actually put particular emphasis on both Brexit and the housing crisis.

The headline announcement concerned stamp duty, which was completely removed for the first-time buyers of properties under 300,000.

With the new measures, 95 per cent of first-time buyers will see at least a cut in the amount of stamp duty, with 80 per cent paying none at all.

In regards to Brexit, Mr Hammond announced the Government would put aside £3billion – with more available if needed.

He said: "We have already invested almost £700million in Brexit preparations and today I am setting aside over the next two years a further £3billion and I stand ready to allocate further funds."